The Mill suspects that in much the same way that paranoid dictators do not go anywhere without first sending several doppelgangers somewhere else so as to mislead would-be assassins, Manuel Pellegrini has let be known that he likes nothing better in the morning than a big steaming mug of cabbage water. The canny Chilean’s plan, of course, is to fool José Mourinho into spending his entire summer trying to buy up all the cabbages in the world in order to let them rot in a mighty Stamford Bridge compost heap or perhaps lend them out to scrawny clubs who need much more than a roughage boost to become threatening. And while Mourinho is doing that, Pellegrini can sit back every morning and enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

That ruse, of course, follows Pellegrini’s realisation that after spending the last year gazumping Liverpool and Spurs, Mourinho now seems intent on thwarting City’s attempt to bolster their defence. After joining the chase for City’s No1 target, Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala, Chelsea are now hot on the tail of City’s No2 target, Roma’s Mehdi Benatia, and are prepared to hand over £18m plus Romelu Lukaku to seal the deal.

It would be quite amusing if Pellegrini responded to these spoiling tactics by buying Diego Costa from under the nose of Chelsea, but that seems unlikely as that deal is all but done, with Atlético Madrid just waiting to secure a replacement before announcing it: their preferences are Tottenham flop Roberto Soldado or … City’s Álvaro Negredo. Ay ay, there’s scope for City mischief-making yet. Meanwhile, Juventus fancy luring Stevan Jovetic back to Italy.

Oblivious to the risk of having a ball whacked at him by an irate Diego Simeone, Arsène Wenger is also poking around Atlético. Indeed, the club has rejected a bid of £9m for right-back Juanfran, a decision that invites irresistible quips about Wenger preparing to come back with a bid of £9.000001m. While in the Spanish capital, Arsenal representatives will trot on over to the Bernabéu to experience the thrill of having an offer for Ángel di María rebuffed. Arsenal are also considering a move for West Ham’s Mohamed Diamé.

Mauricio Pochettino is determined to sign the highly rated Argentinian forward Erik Lamela, Tottenham Hotspur officials having failed to convince their new manager that they weren’t joking when they said the player is already at the club. It has not escaped other clubs attention, however, that Hugo Lloris is still at White Hart Lane and that’s a fact that Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Roma all want to change. Spurs reckon Fraser Forster could be an ideal replacement. Rafael Benítez, meanwhile, reckons the time is ripe to spring Diego López from Real.

PSG still have their sights firmly set on Eden Hazard but, on the off-chance that Mourinho doesn’t fall-out with the free-spirited creator, the French clubs are also eyeing up Lazio’s Antonio Candreva, for whom they will offer money and Javier Pastore.